WEST COAST OPINIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 254, 28 October 1869, Page 3

WEST COAST OPINIONS.

{From the Westport Times.) It happens that, upon the personal merits of the men who are before them as condidates, there is very little prejudice among the electors either one way or the other. Mr. Akersten, known as he is merely by his stay among us, and without giving heed to the fondness of personal friends or to adverse public rumor, is a gentleman to whom, personally, no one might object. He is eminently of a practical turn, and, perhaps, for the initiation, as well as for the supervision, of practical works, he is admirably suited. He is exactly the type of man who, in a public capacity, finds his proper sphere on the Public Works Committees of Town Boards. Half-" shell-back," half-settler, with a smack of the engineer, he would be, and has been, a most useful man is organisingjor supervising street improvements or similar works associated with Municipalities or Harbors. Worse men have no doubt, filled a Superintendent's chair. So far as is known, and as his antecedents reveal, Mr. Gibbs is not less of a practical turn, while he has the reputation of beiDg considerably more political, and, we should say, in a Superintendent's chair, much more politic. He has probably had advantages which Mr. Akersten has not had, and he is of an active, enthusiastic temperament which is refreshing when emanating from tbe atmosphere of Nelson. In any Province of New Zealand, he would be an eligible candidate for the Superintendency. (From the Charleston Herald.) Mr. Akersten , as a member of ths Provincial Council and other public bodies has proved himself a liberal-minded, painstaking, business-man. He has from the beginning taken an interest in the goldfields, and urged the necessity of granting Government aid towards their development. It is, therefore, more than probable that should ;he be elected, the evils agaitist which this community complain will be removed. Mr. Akersten's address and speeches are already before the electors, it is, therefore, unnecessary that we should review them. At the various meetings held by that gentleman votes of confidence were unanimously awarded him. Still without unanimity there can be no certainty. We, therefore, feeling that Mr. Akersten is the most eligible candidate in the field, urge the electors to be unanimous in recording their votes in his favor. (From Private Advices.) Neither of the candidates whom you have sent from the metropolis to solicit our votes appear to be appreciated on the Coast. The electors see at a glance that these two gentlemen do not possess the qualities which should be found in a Superintendent, and I firmly believe that had Mr. Curtis paid us a visit, he would notwithstanding the outcry that has at different times been raised against him have polled a majority of the votes. As it is there is an apathy which neither Mr. Akersten nor Mr. Gibbs have the power to remove, and I question whether more than from 200 to 250 votes will be polled on the whole Coast. -